Means for synchronizing rotary devices.



6. M, lYORKE @L GBJBENJAMiN( y MEANS FOR ISYNGIRONZINGROTARY' DEVICES.

' I APPLICATION FILED AUGVZ. |915. .V i l 1,191,933.. Patented Ju1y`18,.1 916; xi V Y my oNifjrEn sTAiEs `rare'NLC oFEifcE.

GEORGE 1u. YORKE, OE NEW YORK, NY., AND GEORGE 'R3 `BENJAi/IIN,"OE JERSEY O'iY,l NEW JERSEY, lassieNORs TOQTHE WESTERN UNION TELEGRARH COMPANY, OE

NEW YORK, N. lY., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

MEANS FOR'y SYNCHRONIZING ROTARY DEVICES.

Specication cf Letters Patent.

'Patented July 1s, 1916.

Original application iledv'January 5,*1'915, Serial No. 654. 'Divided and this application filed August '21, 1915. Sera1No.46,642. A i

and GEORGE R. BENJAMIN, of Jersey City,

Hudson county, and State of New Jersey,

.citizens of the United States of America,

have invented certain new and useful Means for Synchronizing Rotary Devices, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to means for synchronizing a plurality Of rotary members, and i's particularly intended and adapted for use in so-called synchronous telegraph or Signaling Systems, though also applicable ,for other purposes, as, for example, the synchronizing of electric generators and motors. However', since our invention is yprimarily intended for the synchronizing of distributers or commutators of multiplex telegraph systems, it will be described herein as embodied in suoli a system, but without any intention on our part of thereby linuting our invention to use in multiplex telegraph systems; and while we describe hereinafter our invention as applied toa multiplex telegraph system of the socalled Baudot type, and to ay system wherein one vconductor ofthe line circuit is a metallic conductor, we do not intend thereby to limit our invention either to telegraph systems of the so-called Baudot type, or to telegraph systems wherein one conductor of the line circuit is la metallic conductor; the invention being equally applicable to sO-called' radio-telegraphy, wherein current waves are transmitted through the air' or ether or other agent than a telegraph wire.

` Telegraph systems such as that in connection with which our invention is herein illustrated and described, comprise two or more ldistributers or cominutators with means for maintaining synchronism. Each y telegraph character consists of a plurality ofcurrent impulses (five impulses for each character` in the particular system herein described), the necessary distinctions between the several characters being obtained 'by causing one or more ofthe current im- Vsign or direction or polarity from the- -means whereby each reversal of current pulses of each character to be of Opposite other impulses of that character; the result- Y ing reversals of current sign affording the number of permutations necessary for theA -distinction of theseveral letters of the allthan five for each character might suffice.

With the particular number of current impulses for each character, our invention has nothing to do, being equally applicable to vsystems wherein the current impulses for each character are greater or less in number than five. i

In systems such as referred to it is essential that the distributei's or `commutatois shall rotate or move in substantial synchronism; and heretofore, at least in the Baudot system, it has been the common practice to provide special divisions of the commutators for. efecting synchronization, the transmitting and receiving apparatus being synchronized Once in each complete rotation, provided synchronization is required. According to our invention, we dispense with the separate divisions of the commutators, heretofore providedparticulai-ly in the Baudot system, for effecting synchronization, and instead we employ sign, employed in the transmission ofl characters or other signals, is available for synchronization or correction the term correction being the term commonly employed in the art, and being the termliereinafter employed, with reference to the establishment or reistablishment of s vnclnonism between the transmitting and receiving apparatus). Thereby we materially increase the effective speed of transmission, and also materially simplify the apparatus besides vobviating the otherwise numerous opportunities for errors in transmission and making it possible to maintain constantly very accustarted up.

Our invention consists, therefore, in improved synchronizing means; particularly synchronizing neans wherein each reversa-l of line current or polarity is available for correctionig though various portions ofthe apparatus ,embodying our invention are adaptable for-use in systems wherein synchronization is effected otherwise than by each current reversal or reversal of polarity'.

This improved correcting means affords the following. imp ortant advantages: 1. Every change of sign of the signaling impulses, or, in systems operating by current pulses of one direction only, every change oi, current strength, provides a possible correction moment. 2. At this correction moment thecorrecting devices will be operated if the correction is required, and will not be operated if the correction vis not required. 3.- Asl the telegraph signals consist of various combinations of positive and negative impulses, or, in systems operating by current impulses of one direction only, of various combinations of impulses of different strength, or, of impulses and spaces, many correction'moments are available during each revolution of the distributer brushes. 4. Because of ,the foregoing characteristics of our system,

no special correcting impulses are required.

The objects of our invention are to main-v tain accurate synchronism constantly; to avoid errors in'transmission or in operation of the apparatus due to lack of perfect syn- -chronism; to bring the transmitter and receiving apparatus into synchronism and l, proper phase relation veryquickly,A when the apparatus is started up; to increase the effective speed of transmission; to simplify the apparatus employed; to make it very easy to operate the apparatus; and in general to make the apparatus relatively simple and easy to comprehension and to avoid opportunity for derangement.

We will now proceed lto describe our invention with reference to the accompanying drawing, illustrating diagrainmatically one arrangement of receiving apparatus which may be employed inaccordance with our invention, including one form of correction apparatus which may be employed. l

In said drawing, D1 and D2 designate transmitting and receiving distributers located at opposite ends of a line circuit L. The two distributers are similar and, in general, are each divided into four similar quadrants, each of which Vquadrants may be,

pair being plain or continuous.

and commonly. is. employed 'for the simultaneous transmission and reception of messages, constituting, with its circuits and accessory apparatus, a single channel of communication. `For simplicity of illustration, we have shown transmitting means connected to one quadrant only of the distributer D1v and we have shown one quadrant only of the distributer D2; and we have omitted the' signal receiving connections of distributer D1 and the signal transmitting connections of distributer D2. Both distrib-A iiters are shown ,developedf Each of the distributers D1 and D2 comprises a plurality of rings (eight rings in the construction shown) which are connected in pairs by suitable brushes, one ring of each pair being segmented and one ring of each Rings S1 andV HG1 form `one pair of rings, of which ring S1 is segmented, these rings being coni nected by brushes BB1; these two rings and their brushes being employed for receiving. Rings S2 and ,HG2 formanothervpair of rings of which ring S2 is segmented, these two rings being employed for synchronization or correction, and being connected lby brushes BR2., Rings S3 and RG2 form an- .other pair ofk rings, employed for trans- 'transmitting apparatus, vand other local purposes, and are connected by brushes DB4.

T1 designates a transmitter, which may be either4 a hand operated transmitter or may be a mechanically operated and mechanically controlled transmitter, such for example, as a transmitter controlled by a suitable perforated'tape. Such transmitter, in the' construction shown, comprises iive setsf-of current reversing transmitting contacts K1, K2, K2, K1 and K5. of which the middle contacts are movable, and the outer contacts are connected to one orthe other of two generators G1 and G2, oppositely connected so that positive ornegative impulses are transmitted according as each middle contact of the transmitter is in contact with the one or the other of-the cor-v responding outer contacts. However, the particular means for supplying current to the line is unimportant as is the particular means for supplying current of the one sign or the other to the line,as desired. One complete .set of synchronizing apparatus is all that' is required for one circuit, however many transmitting and receiving setsmay be operated over 'that circuit.

L designates the `line conductor, connecting the two distributers, and ML designates end of line 1L.

with distributer D2 controls, through distributer ring RG2 and brush BR2 and the A segments of ring S2, a relay R; While from the R segments ofring S2a circuit conductor 99 leads through switch 88 to a 'condenser K connected to the armature of relay Rm. The two contact stops of relay `R are connected, the one to one magnet and the other to the other magnet of a polar relayRX, andthence to ground. The armature of relay R is connected to a generator 100 and thence to ground, while one contact stop of relay Rx is connected to the magnetMlbf a ratchet mechanism, well known in the art, which, when operated, steps back the generator D2 with reference to the generator D1.

It will be noted that in the arrangement shown in the drawing the contact stops of the main line relay ML are connected, the one to a source of current 103 of one poof the opposite polarity. The polarity of the armature of relay`RA is such that a current impulse from battery 103 passing through the armature of relay `ML, ring RG2, brush BR2, and any of the A segments of ring S2 tothe Amagnet coils of relay Rm', moves the armature of that relay into con tact with the stop 105; while a current impulse from battery 10l,.passing through the armature of relay ML4 and the same circuit path to andthrough the magnet coils of relay R moves vthe armature of that relay into contactgwith the contact stop 106.

The relay RX is operated by batteries 103 and 101 through the armature of main line relay ML, conductor 101, ring RG2, brush BR2 and anyof the R segments of ring S2, condenser K, armature of relay R, and one or the other of contact stops of that relay to one or the other of the magnet coils of relay R2. If the armature of relay Rm is against contact stop 105 when the condenser K receives a charge from battery 103 through one of the R segments, theresulting current flow through the upperlcoil of relay RX actuates the armature of that relay to move such armature against stop 107. If,

however, the armature of relay Rm is inA contact with its stop 106, the charging of the condenser K as described, will energize the lower coil of relay Rx and move the armature of that relay into contact with stop` 10S. The magnet M1 of the ratchet mechanism is energized only when contact is made between the armature of relayRx and stop 108.

In describing the operation of the apparatus of ythis drawing we will first assume 1 'tliat the brushes of the distributer at the two ends of the line wire L are rotating. in ,syn-

'chronism' and' in proper phase relation. When this condition exists the brush vBR2 will be yjust entering upon the beginning or lefteXtreme of an A segment as the armature'ofmain line relay ML changes from one position to the other in response to a ,signaling impulse transmltted through line '.wire L. We will assume that the armature 'of relay ML has just moved to' thev right,

and that brush BR2 is just entering an A- segmentof ring S2.v As the brush moves over the A segment a circuit isestablished from battery 103 through the armature of relay ML, conductor 101, ring RG2, brush BR2, an Asegment of ring S2 and the coils of relay RW to ground, moving the armaf ture of relay R .into contact with stop 105. This prepares a circuit pathfor the following operation: The brush BR2 con-y tinues to move over the A segment of ring S2 and on to the next succeeding R segment of that ring. The armature of relay ML being still against its right hand stop, and so in circuit with battery 103, when brush BR2 makes contact with such succeeding R segment, a circuit is vcompleted from battery 103 through the armature of relay ML and conductor 101 to the ring RG2 as before,

brush BR2, and R segment of ring S2 to one side of the ,condenser K, the other side of that condenser being connected through the armature of relay Rm', stop 105, and the upper coil of. magnet RX to ground, thereby holding the armature of relay R against its upper stop 107, so preventing any action ofl magnet ML; which is as it should be, for

under the conditions assumed, the distributers at the two ends of the line are 1n p er-- feet phase relation and no correction by the operation of magnet ML is required. But let us now suppose that the distributers at the two ends of the lineare not in perfect phase relation; and that, at the moment the armature of main line relay ML moves to the right to establish a circuit connection.

tion between the armature of relay ML and.

battery 103, will be too brief to permit reversal of the armature of relay R, which armature, therefore, (having 'l previously been against its stop 106 `owing to prevlous transmission of an impulse from battery 101 through the coils of relay R) will remain in contact with stop 106; and when the brush BR2 passes into contact with the next R segment, the condenser K will be charged from battery103, and the lower coil of relay R* willbe energized and therefore the armature of that relay will be moved against its stop 108, causing the energization of magnet ML and the operation of the ratchet mechanism to retard or step back the 4distribulter D2', whereby that distributer is restored f segment of' ring Sz'for. a sulicient length of time for relay Rm to be operated; thoughv no operation of that relay Rm occurs, because, although the current from battery 104 -tends to move the armature of relay 'Rm' into contact with stop 106, that, armature is already in lcontact with that stop 106,

not having been moved from that stop 106 by the previous impulse from battery 103,

since during such previous impulse Contact of 'the brush BR2 with an A segment centinued for too brief atime for relay .Rfm to operate. When brush BR2 passes to' the lnext succeeding .R segment, a current impulse from battery 104 charges the condenser K and the resulting iiow of curent lmoves the armature of relay Rx into contact with its stop 107 thereby 'breaking the circuit through the ratchet mechanism M1 and permitting the restoration of the armature and the pawl of that magnet tol normal. The

next reversal of current in line wire L moves the armature 'of relay ML into contact with battery 103, and just as the brush BR2 passes over into vcontact with the next A segment,

a current from battery 103 passes through the coils of relay RW for a suiicient time to move the armature of that relay against its stop 105, so that when the brush BH2 reaches the following R segment of ring S2,

the latter portion of the current impulse from battery 103, charging the condenser K,

does not change the position of the armature of relay RX which. is still held against stop 107. In other words,-if the reversing relay 11 is actuated by the first portion of the impulse, transmitted throughthe armature of the main line relay ML, whether that impulse be positive or negative, the correcting relay Rx is not actuated by the secondary portion of that impulse; but if the reversing relay Rm is not actuated 4by the rst portion of an impulse, by reason of such portion being too short, then the cor- Y recting relay RX is actuated, magnet M1 is energized, and correction ofthe distributer eii'ected.

It will be obvious that the ratchet mechae nism M1 might be arranged to advance distributer D2 with reference to distributer D1 in the'event that the distributer D2 is arranged to be driven normally at a speed slightly less than that of distributer D1, and that the correcting arrangement illustrated, and comprising the relays Rm and RX, would be arranged to cause the ratchet mechanism tor advance the distributer D2 with reference to distributer D1, instead of stepping it back. rI `he slight change in cir cuits required to accomplish this is obvious and. is not believed to require illustration.

'IVe have indicated diagrammatically, 'as means for driving distributer D2, the well known La Cour motor comprising a toothed armature wheel PW, magneto DM1 and DMZ, and a tuning fork contact device driven by a magnet FM for energizing magnets DM1 and DM2 in alternation. It may be understood that the distributer D1 is driven by similar means. However, the distributers D1 and D2 may be driven by any suitablemeansLand we do not limit our selves to any particular vmeans for that purpose. y

This application is a division of our applicationr Serial No. `654:, liled January 5, 1915, wherein we have claimed ybroadly means for maintainingsynchronism between two distributers, comprising correction mechanism arranged to be brought into operation by variation of current impulses incident 4to the transmission of signals; therefore, such invention m'is 'not claimed herein; liatfwe claim is:

l. In a synchronous telegraph system the combination of a rotary distributer comprisinga commutator divided into segments, and a brush for such commutator, means arranged to produce relative lmotion between said commutator and saidl brush, a line relay arranged to apply current of alternately opposite sign to said brush in response to signaling impulses in a line circuit, a `olar relay having its operating magnet con ected to alternate segments of said commutator, and

its armature connected to the intermediate segments rof said commutator and correcting means controlled by said polar relay and arranged to be operated or` to be idle according as the first portion of an impulse transmitted through said commutator to the operating magnet of said polar relay is too brief or is of sufficient length to actuate said polar relay, said correcting means arranged to operate immediately upon failure of such polar relay to operate, the length of such impulses depending upon whether the commutator and brush are or are not in proper phase relation with respect to the operation of said line relay. Y l

2. In a synchronous telegraph system the combination of a rotary distributer comprising al vcommutator divided into segments,

anda brush for such commutator, means arranged to produce/relative motion between lay arranged 'to' '"ply current o f alternately voppositesign to /fiaid brush in response to signaling impulses in a line circuit, a polar relay having its operating magnet-connected to alternate segments of said connnutator,

and its armature connected to the intermediate segments of said commutator, and correcting means comprising a further relay having an armature and magnet coils arranged to move such armature -in opposite directions, one such magnet coil connected to one contact stop of the polar relay, the vother to an opposite stop ofthe polar relay, said further relay arranged to operate immediately upon failure of said polar relay lto operate following a current reversal by the line relay.

said commutator'fgnd said brush, a line re- 3. In a synchronous telegraph system thel combination of a rotary distributer comprising a commutator divided into segments, and abrush for such commutator, means arranged to produce relative motionv between said commutator and said brush, a line relay arrangedto apply current of alternately opposite sign to said brush in response to i signaling impulses in a line circuit, a polar relay having its operating magnet connected to alternate segments of said commutator, and Tits armature connected to the intermediate segments of said commutator, and correctingmeans comprising a further relay having an armature and magnet coils arrangedv to move such armature in opposite directions, one such magnet coil connected to one contact stop of the polar relay, the other to an opposite stop of the polar relay, said further relay arranged to operate imyI nediately upon failure of said polar relay 'to operate following-a current reversal by the line relay, and a condenser interposed in the circuit connecting the arma-ture of said polar relay and the commutator segments to which that armature is connected by such circuit.

4. In a synchronous telegraph system the combination of two rotary distributers to be for the transmission of signals, one of said:

distributers comprising a commutator divided into segments, and a brush for such commutator, and means for maintaining synchronism between said distributers, comprising a line relay arranged to apply current of alternately vopposite sign to said brush'in response to signaling impulses in theline circuit, a polar relay having its operating magnet connected to alternate seg- A ments of said commutator, and its armature connected to intermediate segments of said operated in synchronism and a line circuitA commutator, and correcting means controlled by said polar relay and arranged to be operated or to be idle according as the first portion of an impulse transmitted through said commutator to the operating magnet of said polar relay is too brief or is of suiiicient length to' actuate said polar relay, said correcting means arranged to operate immediately upon failure of such polar relay to operate,the length of impulses depending upon whether the commutator and brush are or are not in proper phase relation with respect to the other distributer.'

5. In a synchronous telegraph system the combination of two rotary distributers to beoperated in synchronismand a line circuit connecting the same, meansfor transmitting current impulses from the one distributer to the other and for varying such impulses for the transmission of signals, one of said distribiiters comprising a commutator divided into segments, and a brush for such'commutator, and means for maintaining 'synchronism between said distributers,l comprising a line relay arranged to apply current of 'alternately opposite sign to said -brush in response to signaling impulses in and magnet coils arranged to move such armature in opposite directions, one such magnet coil connected to one contact stop stop of the polar relay, said further relay arranged to operate immediately upon failure of said polar relay to operate following a current reversal by the line relaye v6. In a synchronous telegraph system the combination of tvvo rotary distributers to 4be operated in synchronism and a line circuit connecting the same, means for transmitting current impulses from the one distributer tothe other and'for varying such impulses for the transmission of signals, one of said distributers comprising a commutator divided into segments, and a brush for such commutator, and means for maintaining synchronism between said distributers, comprising a line relay arranged to apply currentvof alternately opposite sign to said brush in response to signaling impulses in the line circuit, a polar relay having its op- `of the'polar relay, the other to the opposite erating magnet-connected to alternate segvmagnet' coil connected to one contact stop of thepolar relay, the other to an opposite stop of the polar relay, said further relay In testimony. whereof We` have signed this arranged t0 operate immediately upon failspecificationvin the presence o'f two subscrbl() ure of said polar relay to operate following Witnesses.

ing a current reversal by the line relay, and GEORGE M. YORKE.

a condenser interposed in the circuit conn GEORGE R. BENJAMIN. necting the armature of said polar relay Witnesses: l

and the commutator segments to which that .'l. L. HUNT,

armature is connected by such circuit. R. J. MEIGS. 

